I was disappointed in Neil today. He claims to live in an "Addams Family" style house, yet when he posted a picture of his cat, there was beige carpet on the stairs.

Beige?!?!?!

So disappointed...

ilolbiaal (I'd Laugh Out Loud But I'm At A Library)

I don't blame him for writing films, i'm really excited about Beowulf, I just wish he wouldn't let other people (or anyone at all) make films out of his books.

This is why he calls it an Addam's Family house:

Heh, anyone ever read his page of that book? It's actually really interesting. I was quite shocked to find him on the cover, considering his large-but-not-nearly-so-enormous-as-Stephen-King's sive following.

Does anyone know if Neil could even stop them from making movies out of his books? Is it a situation where as long as they give credit that the movie is based on his book, and pay the royalty, he can't stop them?

I know every now and then AC/DC fans start griping about hearing their songs in commercials. Some of us went digging, and found out as long as AC/DC gets paid their royalties, they couldn't stop it if they wanted to.

To make a movie they have to licence the rights beforehand from whoever owns them. For books it is usually it is the author who owns the rights, but in the case of many comics it is the comic company that owns them.

Yeah... Granted, it might not be up to Neil... But I reserve to right to bitch about it if I like! Yes, I think in the case of his comics the publisher (DC for most of them) is in control of the rights, film and otherwise. Novels? I dunno. Anyone?

But, look at it this way, the movies might cause more people to pick up his books. I've read books after seeing the movie and really liking it. I know a BUNCH of people who never read The Lord of the Rings or the Harry Potter books until after the movies came out.

Besides, you don't have to see the movies. I always go see the movies of books I read because I'm curious to see how badly they'll butcher it.

I was thinking the same. Sadly, here in America, Neil is still fairly unknown (so is Terry Pratchett! Blows my mind that a man can write that many books and entire nation barely notices his existence!), and the movies help get his name out there. I know there are a lot of people who see movies and go "Oh, that was based on a book? Well, let's see what the book is like..." Next thing you know, there's another hooked fan. Seriously, look at Stephen King. If half his books weren't optioned back in the early 80's, do you think the drivel he puts out would sell nearly as well as it does? (Note to King fans: I'm not saying ALL of his work is utter crap, just that he does put out some really awful stuff that only sells because his name's on it.)

Besides, even if they butcher half the plot, as long as they stay true to the basic storyline, any movie based on Neil Gaiman's work is bound to be interesting at the very least.

Besides Stephen King, John Grisham, and JK Rowlings are there any really well known authors in America?

I think there are authors who might be well known amoung those of us who are readers. But, I'm sorry to say, we're in the minority. Honestly, I discovered Neil by accident. Barnes and Noble put up a display of his books. I started looking at them, thought they looked good, so I asked the people in a book chat I frequent. They promptly started arguing over which book I should read first, one person told me I should read Neil's blog, so I did. The next day I went back to Barnes and Noble and bought both Neverwhere and American Gods.

Tom Clancy and James Patterson.

James Frey has made a name for himself recently, but not in a good way, though his book is still selling well.

Jackie Collins also manages to do a lot of talk shows and sell a lot of books.

Harlequinn romance novels average a sale every minute of every day, but their authors aren't that well known.

All this mediocrity that sells so well keeps me going when I get discouraged, if they can sell that kind of writing, then there is hope for me.

I wonder if Fabio would pose for the cover of a Sci-fi book.

I think it's better to TRY to make a good movie and possibly fail, than to never try at all...

Parrot, photography is a life long passion of mine. You finish a book, and I'll do your cover.
I do some buisness with the stock photography sites. Today while in Barnes and Noble I saw a book that had an identical cover to another book I just read. It struck me because it's a different author, different genre, but it was the same photograph. The only thing different was that the designers changed some of the colors. I wondered if that picture came from a stock site.

Sure, there are authors of varying popularity. I should know, i'm a librarian and I have to shelve them. First of all, there's Michael Crichton who, popularity-wise is up there with Grisham and King, despite the fact that he's a crap writer. Danielle Steel is also in that group (and the afore mentioned James Patterson and Tom Clancy). Then, to a lesser extent, you have Sandra Brown, Rita Mae Brown, Dan Brown (I have the 'Browns' can't some of them change their last name?) Jodi Picoult (she's getting more popular) etc. There are a number of them, but no, massive across-the-board popularity and recognition is not something many authors enjoy. But I think Neil is picking up in popularity. He'll never be Michael Crichton or John Grisham, he's too talented for that, but he has a big enough fan-base.

Yeah, I think you're right...they're pulling in everyone like a black hole...
Raven, I can see your point that your intreguied with the film adaptions but they'll probably fuck it up (like Henry Selick will probably do with Coraline even though the idea of making Coraline into a film is good) I wish Neil had more power over this...it would really suck to see this films become a load of crappy Hollywoood adaptions...

Yeah, precisely. I can respect that they have potential, and I can acknowledge that some people might read the book after watching the film, but my personal feelings are, the negative aspects of such a prospect far outweight the good. I'd much rather see Neil's books left alone and just have him write more origional screenplays like 'MirrorMask' and 'Beuwulf.'

With the whole Stardust movie thing, I'm not sure if they'll get that right, I actually think they'll mess it up. For the reason that Stardust deals with sex, true love, death, misery all in a fairytale. I have the feeling they may tone down some of the thematic elements (ex: The unicorn decapitation) and they may hire a screenwriter who has little experience with Neil Gaiman. And I don't think Neil is occupied as a screenwriter. I DOlike that he tries screenwriting but Mirrormask for me didn't really come to my level of entertainment.
Getting back to Neil with film, he may be directing 'BLACK HOLE' which I'm afraid might happen. I hope it does NOT happen because when I read Black Hole, I was not as disturbed or sickened since I had watched the film HAPPINESS.
I hope he makes another great novel like ANASI BOYS, I also hope AB wasn't a farewell! Or...nevermind, he'll always do his thing



Oscar Wilde rules.

I know it's natural to feel disappointed to hear that a favorite author has "sold out" their rights to a production studio.

I prefer to see it another way. These movie adaptations cause people who may not have known the author to find an interest in their works.

If a movie introduces a worthy fan-to-be to Neil's books, then a good thing has happened.

Copy Rights,a powerful tool. Anyway.. Would the carpet be considered Adams family approaved if it had a stain on it? lol